Game controller with interchangeable controls

• US 20050255915A1
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Shek, Chan Kei, Hammond, Michael, Riggs, Andrew J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

The present invention relates to a game controller that has a body, a first input location, a second input location and a first input device. The first input device is adapted to be removably coupled to the body at both the first input location and the second input location.

Claims

1. A game controller, comprising:

a body;

a first input location;

a second input location; and

a first input device adapted to be removably coupled to the body at both said first input location and said second input location.

2. A game controller according to claim 1, further including

a second input device adapted to be removably coupled to the body at both first input location and said second input location.

3. A game controller according to claim 2, wherein

said first input device is selected from the group consisting of a joystick, a directional control pad and at least one action button.

4. A game controller according to claim 3, wherein

said second input device is selected from the group consisting of a joystick, a directional control pad and at least one action button.

5. A game controller according to claim to claim 2, further including

a third input location;

a fourth input location;

a third input device; and

a fourth input device;

wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth input devices is adapted to be removably coupled to said body in each of said first, second, third and fourth input locations.

6. A game controller according to claim 1, wherein

said first input device is selected from the group consisting of a joystick, a directional control pad and at least one action button.

7. A game controller according to claim 1, wherein

said first input device is an adjustable tension stick.

8. A game controller according to claim 1, wherein

said first input device includes an identification tag that enables the input location to identify the first input device.

9. A game controller according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second input locations include electrical contacts adapted to couple to said first input device.

10. A device for controlling actions in an electronically based medium, comprising:

a control pad having electrical circuitry therein;

a first input slot in said control pad adapted to allow access to said electrical circuitry;

a second input slot in said control pad adapted to allow access to said electrical circuitry;

a first control device adapted to couple to said electrical circuitry by being received in either said first input slot or said second input slot; and

a second control device adapted to couple to said electrical circuitry by being received in either said first input slot or said second input slot.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein

said first control device is a joystick;

and

said second control device is a directional pad.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein

said first control device is an adjustable tension stick.

13. A device according to claim 10, wherein

said first control device includes an identification tag that enables the input location to identify the first input device.

14. A device according to claim 10, wherein

said first and second input slots include electrical contacts adapted to couple to said first and second control devices.

15. A game controller according to claim to claim 10, further including

a third input slots;

a fourth input slots;

a third control device; and

a fourth control device;

wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth control devices is adapted to be removably coupled to said body in each of said first, second, third and fourth input slots.

16. A method for using a game controller having a first input device, a second input device, a first input location and a second input location, the method comprising the steps of

removing the first input device from the first input location,

coupling the first input device to the second input location, and

coupling the second input device to the first input location.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein

the first input device is a joystick;

and

the second input device is a directional control pad.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein

the first input device is selected from the group consisting of a joystick and a directional control pad;

and

the second input device is at least one action button.

19. A method according to claim 16, further including the step of

using an identification tag on the first input device to enable the first and second input locations to identify the first input device.

20. A method according to claim 16, further including the step of

using electrical contacts in the first and second input locations adapted to couple to the first input device to the first or second input location.

21. A method according to claim 16, further including the step of

removing the second input device from the second input location.